Resume Basics

Name, Address and Contact Information Make sure that your address is written out, make sure to avoid abbreviations. It is important to make sure your contact information is correct and it is helpful to provide a phone number where messages can be left for you.

Resume Basics Employment Goal: Questions to ask yourself: What job am I applying for? What would I like to achieve if I got this job? What skill or skills can I bring to this position? Examples of goals: To work in the animal care industry. To obtain a part time position in the food industry. To demonstrate my organizational and leadership skills in a child care centre. Remember you do not need to add a goal if you are not applying for a specific job.

Resume Basics Related Skills: This is a chance to list your abilities and skills that relate to the job you are applying for. They can be from paid work, volunteer experience, clubs or teams you are a member of or even skills you have gotten through school or chores at home. Examples of Skills: Works well under pressure Organized, patient and hardworking Provided excellent customer service Efficient and accurate as a cash register operator Capable of handling customer complaints to ensure satisfaction Able to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines

Resume Basics Awards and Achievements This section is an opportunity for you to list any school or sports awards you have won, certificates like CPR and Bronze Cross. You may even wish to include things like being on the honour role.

Resume Basics Volunteer and Work Experience Now that you have highlighted your achievements and awards you should outline any work or volunteer experiences you may have. It is important to include the dates in which you worked, your position the name of the place where you worked and the city and province. You will also need to include your duties as well. You can also include things like babysitting for a neighbour, or any responsibilities around the house like caring for the yard. * Make sure to use a descriptive word before outline your duties, you can use the useful resume words sheet to help you. The descriptive words in the examples have been put in bold. Remember you are dressing up the truth, not lying about what your responsibilities are/were.

Resume Basics 2007-present Volunteer at Sunny Pines Retirement Home Toronto, ON * assisted with group activities, and played games with residents * provided companionship * organized the Sunny Pines Retirement Home Winter Games

Resume Basics Extracurricular Activities This is an opportunity to highlight some of the activities, clubs and sports teams that you are a part of. This is important especially if you do not have any work or volunteer experience. You can use the format that was used above in the volunteer and work experience. * Make sure to use a descriptive word before your description, you can use the useful resume words sheet to help you. The descriptive words in the examples have been put in bold.

Resume Basics 2007 – 2008 Team manager of ESA hockey team Ensured team mates are aware of important dates and games Assisted coach with practice drills Organized equipment room

Resume Basics 2006 – 2009 Reporter for ESA school newspaper Creates interesting and engaging articles for the newspaper Conducts accurate research Consistently meets tight deadlines

Resume Basics Education This is something that you can choose to include in your resume. Since you are still in high school this will be the only thing that will be placed in this category. If you do include this section be sure to mention that you are currently completing grade 10. Since you do not put your age on your resume this allows the employer to recognize that you are a high school student and not someone who has dropped out.

Resume Basics Hobbies and Interests Last but not least this is a chance for you to mention in a sentence or two some things that you like to do in your spare time that are different from some of the activities that you already mentioned in the other resume sections. Sometimes this is a great opportunity to draw connections to things you do in your spare time that relate to the job that you are applying for. Again this section is optional, if you do not wish to include it you do not have to. Also remember choose your hobbies and interests carefully they should not be too personal.

Cover Letter Basics

The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce yourself to potential employers. You are attempting to show yourself in the best light possible and to make that employer think that you are the best person for that job.

Cover Letter Basics You can break your cover letter down into eight simple steps. You want to make sure that you are as concise as possible – this means that you say as much as you can in as little time as possible.

Cover Letter Basics 1.Put in your complete address Amy Smith 123 Fake Street Anytown, Ontario M6E 1G

Cover Letter Basics 2. Date January 2, 2010

Cover Letter Basics 3. Address the letter to the person and include the address of where you are applying Ms. Employer, Owner Happy Kids Daycare Anytown, Ontario M6E 1C4

Cover Letter Basics 4. Salutation Dear Ms. Employer

Cover Letter Basics 5. First Paragraph State why you are writing. Put down the position you are applying for. If possible make a general comment about where you are applying I am responding to the ad in the Toronto Star for a part time childcare worker at Happy Kids Daycare for your summer art program. I have always enjoyed working with children and from your website I see that your daycare really promotes the arts, which is very important to me.

Cover Letter Basics 6. Second Paragraph State your qualifications for the job Match your skills with ones that would be needed to do that job Highlight any relevant work or volunteer experience I have spent the last three years volunteering at the Sunny Pines Nursery which has given me the opportunity to work with young children in a caring and fun environment. I know how important it is to be reliable and responsible especially when it comes to children which is why I have completed my Basic First Aid training and a babysitters course. I currently attend an arts focused high school for visual arts so I have a variety of talents that would lend itself to your summer arts program at your daycare.

Cover Letter Basics 7. Third Paragraph Request an action I have attached a copy of my resume for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future to set up an interview to further discuss my skills and abilities. Thank you for your time.

Cover Letter Basics 8. Closing Sincerely, Amy Smith